Fundamentals of Organic ChemistryChemistryGeneral Organic Chemistry
Which of the following species is NOT a carbene?
Options
- A: CCl ₃
- B: CH ₂
- C: CCl ₂
Correct answer
B. : CH ₂
Step-by-step solution
A carbene is defined as a neutral, divalent carbon species containing two unshared valence electrons. Its general formula is :CR₂ . Let us evaluate the given options: (A) The image represents bromochlorocarbene ( :C(Br)(Cl) ), which has a divalent carbon with a lone pair. It is a carbene. (B) : CCl ₃ represents a carbon atom bonded to three chlorine atoms along with a lone pair. This makes the carbon trivalent with an octet, which corresponds to the trichloromethyl carbanion ( CCl ₃⁻ ) rather than a neutral carbene